Steering mechanism for motor-cycles.



I J. I. CHAPINI STEERING IIIECHANISM FOR MOTOR CYCLES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-23. I915.

Patented May 23, 1916.

LIMWL 2 SHEETSSHEET I J. J. CHAPIN STEERiNG MECHANiSM FOR MOTOR CYCLES.

APPUCATIOY man AUG.23. 191s.

1,18%,32 1.. 1 Patented May 23, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

SHAW/H1301 some J. cHArm, oraoorinsrnn, new roan, ASSIGNOR TO STEPHEN A. caress or 1 184 321 Specification oi Letters Patent. Patented lflay 23, 1916 I driving and steering Wheels.

- features of. construction as more fully hereance provided by said hollow bearing, the

tionof; the machine; Fig. 2 is a plan View members C are laterally deflected to provide wheel arranged in the usual tandem relation. I11 II1,iS nevertheless strongly connected t v rear wheels. Y for the drive shaft Q and the bevel gearing The forward portions C of the frame, as Q f dI'IViIIg e l h l- Thev sh ft ares PATENT enrich.

WALKERVILLE, ONTARIO, CANADA. STEERING MECHANISM FOR MOTOR-CYCLES.

Application filed August 23, 1915. Serial No. 46,874. i

To all whom it may concern: the rear wheel and braced b a air of rods Be it known that I, Jon's; J. 'CHAPIN, a K extending to the opposite sid e sills. c t zen'of the United States of America,"'re- To permit of vertical oscillation of the siding at Rochester, in the county of Monwheels and at the same time to hold them in roe and State of New York, have invented the central plane of the frame, each wheel is certain new and useful Improvements. in mounted in a fork, which at its lower end is Steering Mechanism for Motor-Cycles, of connected to the frame 'bv radius rods, and which the following is aspecification, re'fat its upper end has a s lidable bearing in erence being had therein to the accompanythe yoke. The radius rods L for the forin d i Ward or steering wheel are connected to a i Th i v ntion r lates to ot r cyo1es',and stationary axle M, which passes through a has more particular reference to the conhollow journal bearing M, for the hollow struction of the frame and the means for hub M and is pivoted to the former by a resiliently supporting the same upon the vertical pin M The fork N for this forward wheel is secured to opposite ends of The invention further relates to various the bearing M, and by reason of the clearinafter set forth and claimed. forlcand wheel are permitted to turn for In the'draw'ingsz Figurel isa side eleva- Steering. As has been stated, the frame thereof; Fig. 3 is'a cross-section in the plane clearance for the wheel and the radius rods of one ofthe aides. L are similarly bent. Thus the wheel, while A is the driving wheel and B th st ering free to be turned by the steering mecha- C safra'me resiliently supported u on aid the frame, and also is free to oscillate verwheels through the medium of suitable i ally. so springs, but, held in such relation a t The frame is resiliently supported on both neither interfere with the driving or steerof h h els- This is accomplished by ing mechanism. Specifically, the fram 0 springs O forthe forward wheel which are preferably comprises a pair of substantiall sleeved upon vertical studs 0 connected to parallel side sills (1, having a central horithe radius rods L, and which pass through zontal portion connected by cross sills D, and Slotted ng in he ends of the frame upon which is mounted the engine E, trans member C The rear wheel is supported mission gearing F, seat G, as well as other pon springs P, preferably of full elliptic parts of-the mechanism. At opposite nd form, the upper-member being attached to of this central portion of the fr me r the portion C of the frame. The lower upwardly-bent end portions C and C members of these springs are attached to which respectively embrace the forward and radius rods Q, one of which forms a housing shown in plan view, are laterally deflected Q, after pas g Out through the end of h to provide clearance for the turning of the f l Pedals c p y E i v j 0011- steering Wheel and beyond the. point of dep g Rwlth shaft. extending o h I fiection converge. At their ends they are housing for the transmission gearing, and connected to a yoke'frame H which passes this c upling R is in transverse alinement over the wheel, providing sufl'icient clearance with th p l point of the radius Q, 0 for vertical oscillation thereof. The upper that the oscillation of the wheel will not end of the yoke frame is braced by a rod I interfere with the driving thereof. which extends rearward and downward in. For steering the forward wheel, a handlean inclined direction to the cross bar D, to bar S is suitably mounted on the frame and which latter it is attached, preferably by a connected to the fork N.' I preferably arthreaded shank passingthrough an aperture range the steering stem S in rear of the in the cross-bar. At the rear end of the forward wheel and mount it in a detachable frame C is a similar. yoke J, passing over frame S which is secured to the brace rod I. The lower end of the stem S is stepped in a bearing S from which it may be vertically disengaged. when the frame 3 is detached.

S are laterally and downwardly inclined brace rods for connecting the frame with the side sills C and holding the steering stem in position. n I

S is a rod or other operating connection between the steerin stem'and the fork N for transmitting an angular movement of one to the other. Thus by detaching the frame S, which is secured by a bolt S, and by also detaching the lower ends of the brace rods S and the rod S the Steering stem and handle-bar may be removed.

Whatl claim as invention i 1. In a motorcycle, a rigidframe, a supporting wheel, resilient vertically-yieldable connections between said frame and wheel, and steering means mounted on said frame operatively connected with said wheel'in the various positions assumed thereby during its vertical and steering movements.

2. In a motorcycle, a rigid frame provided with side sills extending between centers of the forward and rear wheels, the forward portion thereof. providing clearance for the turning of the wheel, a vertically-yieldable resilient support for said frame on the steering wheel, a radius rod for connecting said wheel to said frame, also providing clearance for the turning of the wheel, a fork for said Wheel, and a steer ing mechanism mounted on said frame connected to the fork and operative in different positions of movement thereof relative to the frame.

3. In a motorcycle, a steering wheel, a

frame having forwardly-extending side sills embracing said steering wheel and laterally deflected to provide clearance therefor, a

verically-yieldable resilient connection lie--- tween said frame and. wheel, and a: radiusrod connecting said wheel with said frame and also provid ng clearance for turning.

4. In a motorcycle, a steering wheel, a-

forlt for turning said wheel, a frame having forwardly-extending side sills embracing said wheel and 'a portion vertically, adjustably engaging said fork, a radius rod connecting said wheel to said frame,.and a resilient support intermediate said radius rod and the forward-projecting portion of said sills.

In a motorcycle, a steering wheel, a stationary axle for said wheel, a journal for said wheel vertically, pivotally connected "to said stationary axle, a frame having forwardly-extending sills ernlo 'acing said wheel and providing clearance for the turning thereof, a radius rod connected to said stationary axle and pivotally connected to said frame, a resilient, yieldable suppo t for said forwardly-projecting sills of saia frame upon said stationary axle, :1 id steer'in mechanism for turning said wheel.-

6. In a motorcycle, the combination witl a wheel of a hollow hub therefor, a hollow journal within said hub, a stationary within said hollow journal and pivotally connected thereto, a frame having for wardly-projecting side sills embracing 5: wheel and laterally deflected to pro clearance forthe turning thereof, rad rods pivotally connected to said frame and secured to said stationary axle, said r0 being similarly laterally deflected to provic clearance for the turning of the wheel, and resilient, vertically yieldable connections so between said frame and radius rods.

7. In a motorcycle, the combination witl; the steering wheel, of a frame having for wardly-projecting side sills embracingsai wheel and laterally deflected to provio, clearance for the turning thereof, ant? radius rods connected with said wheel and pivotally connected to said frame, corre spondingly, laterally deflected to provide clearance for turnin all 8. In a motorcycle, the combination with a steering wheel, of a frame having for wardly-extending side sills embracing said wheel and laterally deflected to. provide clearance for the-tiu'ningthereof, a radius a rod connected to said wheel and pivotally connected to said frame, and 'a resilient, yieldab'le connection between said side sills and radius rod,

9. In a motorcycle, the combination. with. the steering wheel, of a frame having forwardly-extending*side. sills embracing said wheel and laterally deflected to provide clearance for the turning thereof, a yoke connecting the ends of said sidesillshand extending over said wheel, a fork for turning said wheel within said yoke, pivotall and vertically adjustably engaging the same, a hollow hub for-said wheel, a hollow journal within said hub connected-to said fork, an axle? within said hollow journal and pivotally connected thereto, radius rods connecting said axle-with said frame, and resilient, 'yieldable connections between said radius rods and the ends of the side sills of said frame.

10. In a motorcycle, a frame having forwardly-extending side. sills embracing the steering wheel and laterally deflected to pro-. vide clearance for the turning of said wheel andfaf radius rod connecting said wheel to said frame, correspondingly laterally de icl wheel and said side the side.

anwtorcycle, the combination with l-Clable, supporting cannection steQ-ring Wheel, of mme having forwardly-projecting side Sills embracing said wheel, radius rods connecting said. wheel anclframe, sbucls upon said raclia's moi-s slidably engaging said sills and springs sleevad upon said studs m s-en said rods and sills.

In tesimony whereof I afilx my sigi'zaijm'e m presence two Wl'fiDBSliES.

JOHN J.

"witnesses;

CHARLES 'IIEFIJL Emmzw h UUMPSTUN, Jr

and extending b3- 7 

